Politician indicted in NY 2008 perjury case

Wednesday

Apr 10, 2013 at 10:40 PMApr 10, 2013 at 10:42 PM

NEW YORK – A former state assemblyman who is cooperating with federal authorities in a bribery case pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the state perjury case that initially ensnared him. The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Bronx against Nelson Castro alleges he lied under oath during a civil proceeding concerning his eligibility for placement on the ballot in a primary election for the 86th Assembly District in 2008. It alleges he committed three counts of perjury, accusing him of lying twice when he was asked if he knew specific people and he denied knowing them and once when he was asked if he knew one of those people had been on a certain committee and he said he didn't. Castro, a Bronx Democrat, resigned last week after he said he cooperated with federal officials in a bribery case involving Bronx Democratic Assemblyman Eric Stevenson. Castro was not charged criminally in that case.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK – A former state assemblyman who is cooperating with federal authorities in a bribery case pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the state perjury case that initially ensnared him. The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Bronx against Nelson Castro alleges he lied under oath during a civil proceeding concerning his eligibility for placement on the ballot in a primary election for the 86th Assembly District in 2008. It alleges he committed three counts of perjury, accusing him of lying twice when he was asked if he knew specific people and he denied knowing them and once when he was asked if he knew one of those people had been on a certain committee and he said he didn't. Castro, a Bronx Democrat, resigned last week after he said he cooperated with federal officials in a bribery case involving Bronx Democratic Assemblyman Eric Stevenson. Castro was not charged criminally in that case. Castro's lawyer Michael Farkas said he expects the state charges against his client to be dismissed as long as he keeps cooperating with federal officials. Castro was released on his own recognizance Wednesday, and his next court date was set for Sept. 18. Outside court, Castro said he made “no excuses” for his actions but tried to do right by his constituents while in office. “I intend to take full responsibility for these actions and continue to do what I can to make it right,” he said. Stevenson and four businessmen were charged in part with conspiring to pass a bill in the state Legislature to protect a new Bronx adult center from competitors for three years to give the center a monopoly against other facilities that might want to offer meals, social activities and supervision for the elderly and disabled. Stevenson's lawyer said he was convinced his client would be exonerated. In a statement after the perjury case became public, Castro said he agreed to cooperate in probes “aimed at rooting out public corruption.” His indictment in the perjury case, brought by Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, stemmed from his activities before he was elected to the Assembly. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Johnson telephoned him to ask that federal and state authorities work the investigation together.